BACKYARD BONDING The adage “the family that plays together, stays together” takes on important meaning today, so put down the devices and get outside and have fun!
HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU, KIDS! Tired of hearing, “I’m bored” over the summer? Summer camps throughout Lancaster County are not only the cure for adolescent boredom, but a fun and educational experience.
John Kabat-Zinn
BEYOND BOOKS Check out your local library and you may be able to check out anything from telescopes to ukuleles.
10 Can’t-Miss Events There’s always something going on in Lancaster County. We’re sharing some of our favorites!
GOTTA “CACHE” 'EM ALL Geocaching is a great way to get outdoors and explore with family and friends.
On the cover: twins Carson and Beckett Royal, Manheim
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BACKYARD BONDING
Getting our kids away from screens and into the outdoors can be a struggle, but it's one parents must win. According to Dr. Katie K. Lockwood, a primary care physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), "Outdoor play helps chi ldren grow socially, helping them to develop healthy ways of forming friendships. … It helps them solve problems, bui ld relationships within their peer group and gain a respect for nature."*
Taking time out of your day to play with your children, regardless of their age, helps to build bonds that are difficult to achieve when we are focused on devices. Lockwood goes on to say, "Scheduling time to actively play outdoors sets a natural limit on the amoun t of time your child can spend with a device (such as a TV, a smartphone or a video game)."
Our backyards are the places where memories are made. Many of those memories become stories we share with family and friends for years to come, like the infamous flag football game that turned into a free-for-all of grass stains and laughter. Since we're gathering again, backyard barbecues are an absolute must for this summer. Even if you don't have a yard, a gettogether at a community or state park is a great way to connect and make new memories. Here are a few ideas for your gathering.
Outdoor Fun and Games
Here are some outdoor fun ideas for a small family or a crowd.
Lawn Jenga ® Jumbo versions of the popular game are available and are fun for the entire family. You can even find plans online to make your own outdoor Jenga® set. Word of advice: keep an eye on the dog while playing this game. Two-hand-touch or flag football A pickup game is a fun way to use up some of the energy kids always seem to have. Flag football equipment can be found online if you are concerned that two-hand-touch will turn i nto two-hand-shove.
Go-to Barbecue Favorites
Here in Lancaster County, and just about anywhere globally, get-togethers with family and friends usually involve good food. We asked some people what their go-to recipes are for backyard cookouts, and I added a couple of my own.
Fish n’ Fingerlings
Total Time: 30 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves; finely diced
2 tilapia filets or favorite mild fish (6 to 7 ounces each)
2 tablespoons butter divided in half
6 medium-sized fingerling potatoes; quartered
6 to 8 sprigs of fresh thyme
Salt, pepper, Old Bay
Directions
• Preheat grill to 375°.
• Mix the first five ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
• Place one tablespoon of butter in the middle of two 12-by-12-inch inch foil sheets. Season both sides of tilapia filets with salt, pepper, and Old Bay and place directly on top of the butter. Top filets with three or four sprigs of thyme and drizzle with sauce. Loosely seal foil bags and place them directly on the grill.
• Grill for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender and the fish begins to flake with a fork. Rest for five minutes before serving.
Recipe created by father and daughter Tony and Molly Myers of Mount Joy
Go-to Barbecue Favorites
Aunt Nancy’s Mint Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
Cooled pan of brownies (9 x 13” pan, Duncan Hines or Ghiradelli)
2 cups powdered sugar
2 ½ tablespoons crème de menthe
½ cup salted butter
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons salted butter
Directions
• Cream together with mixer: powdered sugar, crème de menthe, and 1/ cup butter.
• Spread this green layer on top of totally cooled brownies.
• Refrigerate.
• Then in a saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and remaining butter over low heat.
• Stir until smooth.
• Allow to cool at least 15 minutes and spread over the top of the cooled green layer and place back in refrigerator.
• Cut into small squares and serve. Keep refrigerated.
Submitted by Ina Bunnell, Lancaster
Fly a kite Although National Kite Flying Day was on February 8, there is another day that celebrates the kite. Each year on June 15, we celebrate Fly a Kite Day in honor of Benjamin Franklin, who, with the help of a kite, is said to have discovered electricity on June 15, 1752. As if Franklin’s monumental discovery was not enough, kites are an affordable way to enjoy the outdoors. Once very popular, kite-flying is an activity that, I feel, is due for a comeback.
Scavenger hunt You can customize your scavenger hunt to any age. For little ones, use pictures of objects you want them to find. For older kids, you can give clues tailored to their grade level. For family gatherings and reunions, it's fun to play what I li ke to call Who-Dunnit. Which uncle once flew a helicopter in Saigon? Who met Elton John? Who was voted most likely to succeed in their yearbook? This type of game will connect younger generations with their older family members and makes for great storytelling.
Water balloon battle Get outside and get wet. These free-for-all battles usually don't last long, so why not combine two games in one? Play a variation of Red Light, Green Light. The person who reaches the line first can choose to fire on the player they want to, while the other players keep their positions without moving.
Easy Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Serves: enough for a crowd
16-ounce box of rotini or your choice of pasta
1 large green pepper, chopped into half-in pieces
1 medium red pepper, chopped into half-inch pieces
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 ½ cup carrots, peeled and sliced thin
½ pint grape tomatoes; halved
1 ½ cucumbers, peeled, and thinly sliced
1 lb. Muenster cheese, cut into half-inch cubes
24-ounce bottle of Wish-Bone Zesty Robusto Italian dressing
Easy Picnic Wrap
Ingredients
Serves 4
½ cup finely chopped cucumber
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions (scallions)
2 ounces softened cream cheese
4 small flour tortillas (I use wheat.)
¼ lb. (several thin slices) deli meat of your choice. (I use oven-roasted turkey and ham)
Directions
• Mix the cucumber, green onions, and cream cheese.
• Spread evenly on tortillas.
• Lay the pieces of deli meat across each tortilla. Roll up and cut in half. Serve.
• You can add a small amount of dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix to the cream cheese for added flavor. The wraps are great to make ahead for picnics in the backyard or at the park.
Recipe by Wendy Royal
Directions
• Cook pasta according to package di rections. Drain in a colander and run cold water over the pasta to stop the cooking process and cool pasta.
• Transfer to a large bowl and add vegetables and cheese.
• Add the entire bottle of dressing to the mixture and toss to coat. • Cool in refrigerator for two hours. Best when refrigerated overnight.
Variations: You can add chopped salami or pepperoni and any combination of vegetables to the salad; this combination is what my family enjoys.
Recipe by Wendy Royal
Campfire Dutch Oven Donuts
Ingredients
16-ounce can refrigerated biscuits
2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups confectioners sugar
Directions
• Start your campfire early enough so that the coals are hot, but there are no flames.
• Cut a round circle from the center of each biscuit to create the donut hole. Set aside.
• Pour oi l into a cast-iron Dutch oven and carefully place it on a grate over the hot coals. Keep the campfire flames low and a fair distance from the oil. Caution: Oil is flammable.
• When the oil is hot, fry donuts for a few minutes on each side until they are golden brown. Remove donuts from the oil and place them on a towel-lined plate to remove excess fat.
•Roll donuts in powdered sugar, shake off excess, and serve warm.
• Repeat the same process with the donut holes.
Variations: Roll donuts in sugar and cinnamon
This well-known Boy Scout recipe was submitted by Michelle Leed, from Lancaster, whose boys love it.
Note: This recipe was developed for camping but could be used in a backyard firepit. When cooking with oil, it's always a good idea to have baking soda or salt nearby to extinguish the flames if needed. Never use water to put out an oil fire.
Here’s Looking At You, Kids!
NOTE: This is a partial list of camps at these locations. Check websites for complete schedules.
The 2021-22 school year is winding down, and students are undoubtedly thinking ahead to summer. When it comes to filling those summertime hours, Lancaster County offers a range of summer camp options for kids and teens of all ages and interests. Whether you’re looking to hone a skill or try something new, local organizations have you covered. Check out the following options and visit www.townlively.com/summer-camps for more!
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Art in Nature Ages 4 and 5
June 13, 15, and 17, 9 to 11 a.m. Lancaster County Central Park’s Environmental Center, Lancaster https://apm.activecommunities.com/ LancasterCountyParks
Pottery, Hand Building Grades three to five
June 14 to 17, June 28 to July 1, July 19 to 22, or August 2 to 5, 8:30 a.m. to noon Lancaster Creative Factory, Lancaster charrand.programslcf@yahoo.com, www.lancastercreativefactory.org
Pottery, Wheel & Hand Building
Grade six and up
June 21 to 24, July 12 to 15, July 26 to 29, August 9 to 12, or August 16 to 19, 8:30 a.m. to noon
July 12 to 14, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Lititz recCenter, Lititz www.lititzrec.com
EDUCATION/MUSEUMS
Future Leaders Camp
Ages 12 to 17
June 6 to 10, June 13 to 17, June 20 to 24, June 27 to July 1, July 5 to 8, July 11 to 15, July 18 to 22, July 25 to 29, August 1 to 5, August 8 to 12, or August 15 to 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lancaster County Central Park’s Environmental Center, Lancaster https://apm.activecommunities.com/Lancaster CountyParks
MUSIC/PERFORMING ARTS
Discover Your Voice Camp
Age 8 and up
June 11 to 18 or July 10 to 17, noon to 4:30 p.m. Sopranojam Music Studio, Mountville www.sopranojam.com
Summer Ukulele Camp
Grades two to eight
June 20 to 24, 9 a.m. to noon
Dayspring Christian Academy, Mountville https://s4him8.wixsite.com/mysite
Stars in Space Camp
July 11 to 15
Ages 3 to 6, 9 a.m. to noon
Ages 7 to 12, 1 to 5 p.m.
Cavod Performing Arts, New Holland https://cavod.org/class_cat/summer-at-cavod/
Seussical Jr. Theatre Camp
Ages 10 to 18
July 11 to 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cavod Performing Arts, New Holland https://cavod.org/class_cat/summer-at-cavod/
OUTDOOR RECREATION
River Rangers
Ages 5 to 12
May 30 to mid-August, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesdays at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage, Wrightsville
Thursdays at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, Columbia https://susqnha.org
Ultimate Adventure Camp
Ages 10 to 15
June 6 to 10, June 13 to 17, June 20 to 24, June 27 to July 1, July 5 to 8, July 11 to 15, July 18 to 22, July 25 to 29, August 1 to 5, August 8 to 12, or August 15 to 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
June 13 to August 5, with no session on July 4, 9 a.m. to noon
Elizabethtown Community Park, Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church, Fuhrman Park in East Donegal Township, and War Memorial Park in Marietta www.getintogears.org
Survival in Central Park
Ages 9 to 11
June 20 to 24 or July 18 to 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lancaster County Central Park’s Environmental Center, Lancaster https://apm.activecommunities.com/Lancaster CountyParks
Summer Fun and Games
Ages 6 to 8
June 27 to July 1, July 18 to 22, or August 8 to 12, 9 a.m. to noon Lititz recCenter, Lititz www.lititzrec.com
PSI: Park Scene Investigators
Ages 9 to 11
June 27 to July 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lancaster County Central Park’s Environmental Center, Lancaster
June 6 to 10, July 11 to 15, or July 25 to 29, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Lititz recCenter, Lititz www.lititzrec.com
Field Hockey Camp (GEARS)
Kindergarten through grade seven
June 6 to 10, 6 to 7 p.m.
Jane Hoover Field, Elizabethtown www.getintogears.org
Baseball Skills Camp
Ages 7 to 13
June 6 to 10, June 13 to 17, June 20 to 24, June 27 to July 1, July 5 to 8, July 11 to 15, July 18 to 22, July 25 to 29, August 1 to 5, August 8 to 12, or August 15 to 19, 9 a.m. to noon
Mon-Thurs, Sat 9am-5pm Fri 9am-8pm 1054 S. State Street, Ephrata 717-733-4934 reuzitonstate.org
• All-you-can-eat Soup & Salad Bar
• Breakfast Buffet Saturdays 7am-11am
• Weekly Specials. Delicious homestyle cooking
• Online ordering & curbside pickup available
• Many types of tree-ripened fruit in season (strawberries, cherries, peaches, apples & more)
• Delicious & health y seasonal vegetables availabl e
• Fr esh-bake d donuts, fresh-presse d apple cider, pies, dumplings and lots more!
• A Spring Garden Center bursting with co l orful flowers (with mums, pumpkins & more in the fall)!
• Shelves filled with mouth-watering jarred goods, salsas, jams & jellies, butters, preserves and honey
• Baked good treats include scrumptious cookies, whoopie pies, fruit pies & more!
Beyond Books
By Cathy Molitoris
partner with other community organiza tions, for example, with our museum passes. Sometimes, a patron will come to us with a spe cific request. This happened with our memory kits.”
At the Quarryville Library Center, popular non-book items
include three American Girl dolls and accessories, along with board games and STEM kits. “Like other system libraries, we have Playaway Launchpads, which are great for certain circumstances like long family trips,” said Sharon Roche, program manager. “They are tablets loaded with educational content, but they don’t connect to the internet, so a child is assured a safe browsing experience.” The library also offers an extensive collection of backpacks and kits, many of which
ployed caregivers,” she said. “In addition to several books to help understand the experience, this bag contains some useful tips for the caregiver at home, and best of all, the kit has a decorate-yourown-calendar that we treat as a consumable part of the kit. The child may keep this calendar to measure the days until their loved one returns home.”
Like other libraries, the non-book offerings in Quarryville are always expanding. Roche has plans to add umbrellas to the lending catalog for patrons who get caught in bad weather during their visit and to offer specialty cake pans to borrow. During the shutdown, the library started offering grab-and-go craft kits, which don’t have to be returned. “These were wildly popular, and we now offer them from the service desk,” Roche said. “They fly off the shelves as fast as we can assemble them.”
Craft kits are also popular at Columbia Public Library, where additional non-book items include Launchpads, magazines and museum passes. Director Lisa Greybill said these items offer another way for the library to serve all of its patrons. “Learning differences allow for some
people to learn better aurally or visually,” she stated.
Penny Talbert, executive director of Ephrata Public Library, noted that community libraries have a mission of making a difference in the community, and their inventory helps fulfill this goal. “Libraries are about much more than books,” she stated, “so it seems logical to offer items that may not be traditional books.” Ephrata’s library lends out many of the same items as others i n the county, including a ukulele, along with videogames and internet hotspots. “We also offer garden tools for circulation and vouchers for plots in the Ephrata Community Garden,” Talbert noted.
At the Eastern Lancaster County Library, STEM kits, museum passes, board games and American Girl dolls are all popular items, according to director Anna D’Agostino. She noted that the library also features an extensive catalog of online research tools. “Curious minds will appreciate the wealth of quality information resources accessible via a library card,” she said. Patrons can conduct genealogy research at the library, get live homework help or complete market research for business trends. “We even have access to a database with auto repair instructions and diagrams,” D’Agostino noted.
The next time you’re looking for something new, look no further than your local library. “Come visit us to explore and ask questions,” D’Agostino said, a sentiment echoed by the other librarians. “We likely have something you did not know we had and something new you will enjoy.”
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Serving the women and families of Lancaster County for over 50 years. From adolescence through the childbearing years, to menopause and beyond. We are here for your changing needs. May-Grant OB/GYN meets you where you are.
June
• Myrtle Beach, SC (June 6-10, 2022)
July
• Beach Day Trip: Ocean City, MD (July 8, 2022)
• Beach Day Trip: Cape Mayshopping, day on own (July 22, 2022)
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August
• Beach Day Trip: Ocean City, NJ (August 5, 2022)
• Virginia Beach, VA- drop off, trolley pass & free time (August 21-24, 2022)
• 1,000 Islands/Alexandria Bay (August 28-31, 2022)
Call today and reserve your seat on one of these amazing trips happening in 2022! Visit our website for
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September
• St. Michael’s, Maryland (September 8, 2022)
• Mackinac Island, MI (September 18-23, 2022)
• Cape May, NJ- Dolphin Cruise (September 20, 2022)
• Mansions in Rhode Island (September 25-28, 2022) Dates subject to change
Apr 29 – May 2, July 17-20 Day Out with Thomas Strasburg Rail Road, Strasburg www.strasburgrailroad.com
May 21 69th Annual World’s Largest Chicken BBQ Long’s Park, Lancaster https://tinyurl.com/49tebsav
Intercourse www.kitchenkettle.com
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July
July 14-17
Terre Hill Days 2022 Community Memorial Park, Terre Hill www.facebook.com/terrehilldays
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Gotta “Cache” ’Em All Gotta “Cache” ’Em All
By Cathy Molitoris
The next time you take a walk in a park, look around. Chances are, there’s a secret hidden between the branches of a tree or under a rock near the path. You can reveal that secret through geocaching.
Geocaching gives people the opportunity to get outside, get active and use GPS technology to search for “caches,” or hidden containers. Geocaches can be found in parks and other outdoor sites around the globe. In Lancaster County, there are more than 2,100 geocaches waiting to be found.
“I don’t like to call geocaching a ‘treasure hunt,’ because you’re not usually getting something when you find one,” said Beth Katz, a Lancaster geocacher who has been participating in the activity for years. “It’s a journey to someplace you haven’t been before. It’s about finding hidden
places, setting a target or a destination and having a purpose in your walk or hike.”
Above all, she said, “it’s another reason to get outdoors.”
Geocaching begins at www.geocaching.com. Participants create a free account and download an app. In some cases, geocachers use a GPS, Katz said, but most participate with their smartphone. Using the app, participants navigate to a geocache. “Typically, the coordinates don’t bring you exactly to the cache, but within a few feet,” Katz noted. Geocaches can be hidden amongst tree branches, under piles of stones or even on a light post. “Some people (who place caches) use magnetic containers, which are great for sticking underneath a park bench,” Katz stated. Each geocache contains a logbook, which participants sign and date and then place back inside the container,
returning the cache to its original spot for the next person to find. Lastly, geocachers log their experience online, noting things like if the logbook was wet, if anything was missing or any additional information to pass along to future geocachers. The person who placed the cache is responsible for regularly monitoring for maintenance needs.
Retrieving a cache in a local park.
Geocaches, or “finds” in the lingo of regular participants, can offer a varied experience for participants. “Some require you to solve a puzzle before you can find them,” Katz said. Some include little objects such as coins or marbles to trade. The size of a cache can range from “nanos,” which could be as small as a half an inch long, to fivegallon drums. “The traditional geocache container is an ammo can,” Katz noted, “but you can really use any airtight, waterproof container.” Katz, who is currently the owner of about 250 active caches,
A sample logbook from a cache
Beth Katz shows off a nano cache.
Many caches have fun names, such as this one, and include notes for finders.
has used everything from nanos to plastic food containers or peanut butter jars.
Katz has been geocaching since 2005. “My dad asked me what I wanted for my birthday that year, and I told him I’d read something about using a GPS to geocache,” she recalled. “He bought me a GPS unit.” An active Scout leader for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Katz used the unit to lead her Cub Scout troop in searching for geocaches in Muddy Run Park in Holtwood. They found six caches that day, and she was hooked. Si nce then, she has had more than 4,600 finds, and from 2014 to 2016, she completed a 522-day streak of geocaching.
These days, Katz geocaches when she has time, which turns out to be almost every day. A retired computer science professor, she has geocached across the country. “It’s a lot of fun on road trips,” she said. “You can stop at a rest stop, take a potty break and then go for a walk and look for a cache.”
Geocaching is the perfect activity for people of all ages, she
shared. “I have a friend who has gone out while carrying his infant,” she stated. “There are finds that are stroller-accessible or wheelchair-accessible. It’s really something everyone can do.”
Although she doesn’t like to call geocaching a “treasure hunt,” since most caches don’t contain a prize, she acknowledges that the activity is a bit like one after all.
“The treasure is the joy of finding the cache,” she said. “It’s the joy of being outdoors.”
Looking to get started geocaching with your family?
Consider these tips from Katz:
1 Bring a writing implement with you to sign the logbook in case there isn’t one at the cache.
2 Check the details on the cache you’re seeking. Each entry on the website includes helpful information such as the difficulty level, what the terrain is like, the accessibility, the size of the cache container and when it was last found.
3 If you want to trade items, look for bigger containers and be sure to bring items with you to leave behind for the next person.
4
Try to be stealthy. Don’t draw too much attention to what you’re doing while you’re searching, and when you find a cache, don’t post a picture of the location or publicly give away where it’s located. The secrecy is part of the fun for the next person.
5 A pair of tweezers can come in handy for removing logbooks from nano caches. Katz likes to keep a safety pin attached to her jacket for this purpose.
6 Sign and date the log and be sure to record any notes on the app when you’re done.
7 Put the cache back exactly where you found it. Don’t try to “hide it harder,” Katz said, and don’t take the container with you.
8 Set your expectations appropriately. Sometimes there’s nothing in the container. Sometimes you can’t find the cache.
9 Be aware of your surroundings, including steering clear of poison ivy and avoid ing other potential dangers.
10
Just enjoy the experience. “Geocaching puts you in touch with nature,” Katz said. “It makes you aware of your surroundings, and it’s fun.”
Beth Katz, with some of the containers she uses to create geocaches
